What causes the intensity and duration of solar radiation received at any place to vary throughout the year?
the tilt of the earth and the rotation of the earth around the sun. try to picture the scenario, as the earth revolves around the sun with the tilt that it has, half of the year the northern hemisphere will be closer to the sun and the other half of the year the southern hemisphere will be closer.
hope this helps
The intensity and duration of solar radiation received at any place vary throughout the year due to several factors. These factors include:
1. Earth's axial tilt: The Earth's axis is tilted by about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the Sun. As a result, different parts of the Earth receive varying amounts of solar radiation at different times of the year. This tilt causes the seasons.
2. Earth's orbit: The Earth follows an elliptical path around the Sun, with the Sun at one of the foci. As a result, the distance between the Earth and the Sun varies throughout the year. When the Earth is closer to the Sun (perihelion), solar radiation is slightly more intense, and when it is farther away (aphelion), it is slightly less intense. However, this effect is relatively small compared to the impact of axial tilt.
3. Sun's declination: The Sun's declination is the angle between the plane of the Earth's equator and the rays of the Sun. It changes throughout the year due to the Earth's tilt. When the Sun is directly overhead at the equator, it is at its highest declination, resulting in more direct and intense solar radiation. As the Sun's declination changes, the angle at which solar radiation reaches a specific location changes, affecting its intensity and duration.
4. Day length: The duration of solar radiation also varies throughout the year due to the changing length of days. In the northern hemisphere, during the summer solstice, the North Pole is tilted towards the Sun, resulting in longer days and more intense solar radiation. Conversely, during the winter solstice, the North Pole is tilted away from the Sun, leading to shorter days and less intense solar radiation.
To ascertain the specific variations in solar radiation intensity and duration at a particular place throughout the year, one can use various resources and tools. Some available options include:
1. Solar radiation data: Organizations like NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), and other meteorological agencies provide historical and real-time data on solar radiation measurements. These databases typically offer information about monthly, seasonal, and annual variations in solar radiation.
2. Solar radiation models: Various scientific models and simulations are available that can estimate solar radiation based on geographical location, time of the year, and other relevant factors. These models take into account factors such as Earth's tilt, orbit, and atmospheric conditions to predict solar radiation levels accurately.
3. Solar energy monitoring devices: If you want to measure the actual solar radiation intensity and duration at a specific location throughout the year, you can install solar energy monitoring devices such as pyranometers or solar radiation sensors. These devices measure the incoming solar radiation and provide real-time data that can be logged and analyzed to understand the variations.
By using these resources or tools, along with an understanding of the factors mentioned earlier, one can determine the causes of variations in solar radiation intensity and duration at any place throughout the year.